October 2008 Feature: Hi/Lo Books

These are books meant for reluctant readers and/or those reading below grade level.
The challenge is to find books with subject treatment and cover art that is not too babyish for upper elementary, junior high, and high school readers. These students desperately want to fit in and will not carry around a book that does not seem age-appropriate.

Check publishers' sites and librarians' selection tools (e.g. Follett Titlewave) for reading and ineterst levels.

The following series/publishers are highly recommended:

Publisher: Townsend Press
Series: Bluford High
especially appealing to African-American youth

Publisher: Stone Arch
Series: Complicated Life Of Claudia Cristina Cortez
realistic fiction, great for middle-school girls
Series: The Library of Doom
the mysterious Librarian--keeper of the world's most dangerous books, sworn enemy of monsters made of paper and ink, crusader of young people threatened by ancient curses--How cool is that????
Series: Impact Books
realistic fiction
Series: Shade Books
mysteries, suspense
Series: Vortex Books
adventure, fantasy, mystery

Publisher: Orca
Series: Currents and Soundings
some books have content more suitable for high school students

Publisher: Perfection Learning
Series: Cover-to-Cover
Series: Passages
some books by this publisher have less-appealing covers

Publisher: Rosen
Series: Graphic Nonfiction
biograohies, historical events